Ara: History Untold News

Hey, Ara fans!

Last week, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Satch Puri, our Director of Production, for a brand new Dev Q&A session to answer more of your burning questions about Ara: History Untold!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

One of the hot topics we covered was Nation Culling. Many fans have been rightly curious about this feature, and Satch provided some clarity. Players will indeed have the option to turn off Nation Culling when setting up their game, allowing all Nations to survive the Act Transition if they wish, offering a more flexible and personalized gameplay experience.



We also explored the ocean mechanics of Ara, which offer exciting new ways for your nation to dominate the seas. Oceans are not barriers in Ara, but avenues for exploration, trade, and naval defense. Players can create naval units to defend their trade routes, and certain ships are even able to attack land units and improvements, expanding your strategic options in times of war.



A significant highlight was the discussion on Ara’s AI Leaders. We’re thrilled about the feedback we've received and can't wait for players to experience the AI's unique decision-making process. The Leaders in Ara operates with two modes of thought: one focused on long-term goals and another handling mundane, everyday actions, much like a human would. This dual approach promises to deliver a more dynamic and realistic gameplay experience turn after turn.

For those eager to get hands-on with the game before launch, we have exciting news! We’ve just announced Technical Alpha 3 and it’s coming soon to Insiders! Join our Insider Program by visiting AraHistoryUntold.com and filling out the required information.

For more information check out the full video on our YouTube channel. If you have any questions about Ara, feel free to leave them in the comments—we'll do our best to answer them in the next episode!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

We’re back with a brand-new Dev Diary! Join GamerZakh and Oxide Games’ Gabriela Leskur as they look inside Ara’s fascinating Narrative Event system. This system introduces new events that challenge players to make pivotal decisions as they take on the role of leading a new nation.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Narrative Events present players with multiple choices that can greatly impact the trajectory of their nation, including relationships with other leaders, prestige boosts, equipment, and other varied outcomes. Gabriela explained how the team drew inspiration from real historical scenarios and designed the events to reflect complex decisions faced by leaders throughout history.



These events come from various sources, such as tribes you encounter, other nations you meet, and citizens from your own nation. Act Goals, a specific type of event, involve nations in friendly competition to see who can build a Triumph first, resulting in a significant boost to their prestige.



The choices presented during these events may often require specific materials or goods to be fulfilled. These resources can either be produced within your nation or discovered in caches scattered throughout the wild. As the game progresses, events will evolve in accordance with the Act structure, with later events demanding more advanced technologies or goods.

For more info on Ara’s dynamic Narrative Event system, be sure to check out the full video on our YouTube channel. We can't wait for players to experience the intricacies of the Narrative Event system when Ara releases later this year!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Hey there, Ara fans!

In case you missed it, we released an exhilarating Dev Q&A episode yesterday with GamerZahk and Marc Meyer, President of Oxide Games! We tackled a plethora of questions from our fantastic community, so let's dive right in!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Marc kicked off the discussion with updates on Ara's development progress. The team at Oxide Games is firing on all cylinders, polishing every aspect of Ara to ensure an unforgettable gaming experience. From refining water physics to enhancing performance, rest assured, Ara is shaping up to be something truly special.

Next, we delved into the intricacies of Ara's Leaders, unveiling the attribute system that defines their personalities and strategies. Each leader boasts 3 or 4 minor traits alongside a unique Feature, offering a diverse range of benefits and challenges for players to navigate. Whether harnessing the power of the Charismatic trait to bolster your Nation’s Trade or grappling with the hindrance of traits like Aloof, the dynamic interplay of traits promises to shape each player's journey uniquely.

In response to player inquiries, we're excited to announce that Ara will feature multiple difficulty options for AI opponents! As the difficulty scales up, prepare to face increasingly aggressive leaders and smarter long-term strategies, ensuring a dynamic gameplay experience for veterans and newcomers alike.

Shifting gears, we addressed community feedback regarding Ara's starting locations. Marc clarified the team's decision to start with your new settlement, highlighting the importance of jumping-starting players into the heart of Ara's vibrant world. The rationale behind this decision lies in the exponential growth of Nations, compelling players to hit the ground running to keep pace with the competition. Founding your first city early on becomes paramount, setting the stage for an exhilarating journey of expansion and conquest.



We wrapped up with heartfelt messages from Marc to the Ara community, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support and excitement for what's to come. With Ara's Insider Program continually evolving and updates on the horizon, there's plenty to look forward to as we journey toward launch later this year!

You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe for future content! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer them in the next episode!

Until next time, happy gaming!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Grab your compass and hunting spears because we’re talking about the scouts of Ara: History Untold! In our latest Dev Diary, we sat down with Community and Marketing Manager Andy Cataldo to learn more about Ara’s starting unit and how they function in the first few rounds of gameplay.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

At the onset of your journey, you're equipped with a single scout, with the option to craft additional scout staves using gathered resources. These units are essential for uncovering new resources, tackling dangerous predators, and collecting hidden caches scattered throughout Ara's expansive Living World.



Hunting dangerous wildlife not only provides your nation with fur and resources, but it also clears the zone, allowing you to construct a new improvement once you’ve claimed the region. Each animal type has its own difficulty level and may result in a scout’s injury if they attempt to hunt it! Injured scouts can seek refuge within your cities for full recovery or, in dire circumstances, they can rest in the wild to regain partial health.



Another primary task for the scout is revealing hidden resources that can significantly advance your Nation once harvested. Revealing a resource like Iron or Copper is a fantastic discovery, but be warned! Once you reveal a resource, other players will be able to see it, and it soon becomes a race to see who can claim the area first!



Don’t forget the caches! Found near ancient ruins, these hidden troves offer the reward of resources, equipment, or treasure to the player who can claim them first. If your nation survives the Act Transition, be sure to seek out fallen Nations for their caches as soon as possible—it's a goldmine waiting to be plundered!



The significance of environmental factors cannot be understated in Ara. Starting in a desert or dry biome necessitates sending scouts to seek out vital resources like jungles and rivers to ensure your nation's prosperity. However, amidst the wilderness lies the lurking threat of barbarians, roaming bands that pose a formidable challenge to scouts venturing into the unknown.

For more info on scouts, be sure to check out the full video on our YouTube channel and let us know what topics you want covered in future episodes!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Greetings, fellow strategists!

The moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived – Ara's first-ever Dev Q&A is here! Gather 'round as GamerZakh and Design Director Michelle Menard answer your burning questions about localization, gameplay mechanics, and more!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Ever wondered about Ara's expansive map size? Michelle explains how the map can dynamically adjust based on the number of nations, ensuring each player has ample space to thrive while fostering proximity for strategic interactions like trade and combat.

And hold onto your hats – we're talking launch platforms! Oxide Games is laser-focused on delivering a top-notch PC-first experience, with Ara slated for Windows, Steam, and PC Gamepass later this year. Plans for Xbox consoles will be revealed post-launch!



Curious about Ara's simultaneous turns? Michelle shares some of the inspiration that came from classic board games like Diplomacy and explains how the turn structure works in-game. Allowing Nations to plot their moves simultaneously removes some of the advantages commonly seen in turn-based strategy, and ensures each player focuses on out-witting their opponents turn after turn.

Last but certainly not least, let's talk languages! We're thrilled to announce that Ara: History Untold will support a whopping 25 languages at launch, including German, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Italian, and many more!

Got more questions about Ara? Drop 'em in the comments below, and we'll do our best to answer them in our next episode!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/